Paul McBride hopes he can overcome a poor record on the North Course in his bid to seal a victory at the K Club Pro-Am after he hit the front after an opening 65.
McBride fired nine birdies on the South Course to lie on seven-under, one shot clear of David Higgins, Richard Weldon and James Sugrue who each carded rounds of 66 on the South which is where the bulk of the good scoring came on day one of the €100,000 pro-am where the winner will earn €20,000.
The two-time Clutch Pro Tour winner this season began on the 9th and found his first birdie on the par-5 10th. He rolled in three in a row from the 13th before back to back bogeys on 17 and 18 halted his progress. But the Island golfer was in a league of his own on his back nine, carding five birdies in his last eight holes.
“I’ve played here the last three years and shot a good round on this course all three times so just about going out on the North which I haven’t played great on and trying to shoot a number,” said the 2017 Walker Cup player.
“I made two poor bogeys on the actual 17th and 18th and holed a nice putt on one, hit a 25-footer a bit hard and it hit the back of the cup and went in when you shoot a good score those things happen and that’s the way it went out there today.”
McBride will have a target on his back but he will be wary of getting ahead of himself after letting chances slip on the North course over the last two editions of this event.
“There are quite a few tee shots which don’t suit my eye, some are right to left and I like to fade my driver. If you hit a good drive it still goes on the fairway so that’s what I have to do tomorrow.”
Waterville’s Higgins and Weldon of Black Bush stood at the top for most of the day and Weldon was pleased to see his power hitting pay dividends in just his third appearance of the season.
“I drove the ball great. When you drive it well around here it gives you a big advantage,” said Weldon who eagled the 7th. “Hit a big driver on seven, had a 6-iron and hit it into 15 feet and rolled it straight in to the centre which was nice.
“I’ve been playing alright, fourteenth in the PGA was 14th but played better. Today I held a few putts and had the eagle so I wasn’t expecting it but I wasn’t surprised with the score.”
Four-time winner this season Richard Kilpatrick sits in a share of fifth place on four-under 68 with UK based players Josh Crumpling, Philip Kelly and Scott Henderson while reigning Irish PGA champion Cormac Sharvin is three-under after a 69 on the North course.
Scoring proved to be low with 27 players shooting in red figures on day one.
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